From: owner-rockford-files-digest@smoe.org (The Rockford Files) To: rockford-files-digest@smoe.org Subject: The Rockford Files V1 #127 Reply-To: rockford-files@smoe.org Sender: owner-rockford-files-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-rockford-files-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk The Rockford Files Tuesday, May 19 1998 Volume 01 : Number 127 Today's Filings: ----------------- Re: The Rockford Files V1 #126 Don't mess with Don't Mess With Texas I'm hot... Glaring Random Day I'm New Texas is weird and I won't even comment on Kansas.... "Produced by Brendan O'Brian." texas Superdrag For Will and Anne Re: Superdrag Dick Simmons ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 04:25:16 PDT From: "Starre Smith" Subject: Re: The Rockford Files V1 #126 One guy calls in saying, "Please play... >uhhh... Brick." Ben says, "Well, we don't have the double bass in here... >any other request?" He couldn't think of any other song. Eeeg... So yes, >America is still full of idiots. Regarding your post about Modern Rock Live, Carrie... I agree! That was so stupid! I was taping it at the time and just thinking... uh.. duh.. okay... But the song's they played were awesome... 1 Angry Dwarf sounded kick ass! Otherwise, the interview kinda sucked except for a few funny parts.. I thought that was funny when Ben called Darren or Robert a Bastard.. :) The "Song For the Dumped" video was awesome! As far as the videos I like of theirs it ties with "Uncle Walter", "Underground" and "1 Angry Dwarf"... I can't decide my favorite! Don't ask me! :) Eric:What'd you think of my poetry? I never got anything back from ya.. hope you liked it.. either that or you absolutely thought it sucked and never want to speak to me again... I hope not though.. :) Peace, Love, And Anarchy Stella ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 14:26:36 From: justinryan@usa.net Subject: Don't mess with Don't Mess With Texas I need to drop a line to let everyone know that the Austin show was most enjoyable. Congratulations to GINGER NANCE for getting a dedication (Emaline) from Ben. Incidentally, "Don't Mess With Texas" was created in the eighties as a slogan/name for a government-sponsored campaign to curb littering on Texas highways. Although many states followed suit, i.e. "Don't throw your trash on Oklahoma", the Texas slogan caught on and remains recognizable across the country. As an anti-litter campaign slogan it's kind of cool. As a welcome sign to visitors it's kind of stupid. States the size of Europe shouldn't have inferiority complexes. Do you have an exciting anti-littering campaign slogan at your house? I barf with anticipation... Oh yeah, BFF. The set seemed short. But, musically speaking, I felt the guys were a lot tighter than the last time I heard them (Feb., Dallas). It was nice to hear 'Steven's' all in tune. I don't think Ben talked as much as he usually does. He made a nice comment about Robert's shoes. He talked about the conception of 'Air'. Although their musical energy was as always astounding, the guys just looked tired to me. Darren and Robert both looked like they've lost weight. I'm afraid all this work is taking a toll on these guys in little, almost intangible, ways. In some songs the build seemed to fall short of what I've known them to achieve. Little things. The stool tossing seemed, I don't know...routine. (It just now occurs to me that the preceding statement, from a proctological standpoint, is pretty hilarious.) Anyway, I would have paid the price of admission twice over just to hear Ben sing 'Evaporated'. They pull out the double bass, and just when you think 'you know what' is the next number, Ben says "Now we're gonna do a song we haven't gotten to do much on this tour...", followed by those chords... I know it sounds crazy, but it seemed like Ben just needed to sing it. I don't know. I'm just glad he sang it. And regardless of anything negative I've written here (and, by the way, some may disagree with my review), the laughing and the jumping and the smiling and the singing and the shouting and the pure life that abound at these concerts are still a little overwhelming. When I take all this Ben-driven frenzy in, I realize that what this guy brings to the stage is much more than music. It's a reflection of ourselves in all of our wonderful, beautiful imperfection. Never pretentious, it's honest. It's an image that reminds me for a little while that it's cool to be human. Ben's music is better than music. It's art. Tito hand me a tissue, justin P.S. Superdrag didn't get a full soundcheck because the venue showed the final Seinfeld, which cut into their time. I think their sound guy decided to punish us by turning everything up as loud as it would go. My ears are still ringing! ____________________________________________________________________ Get free e-mail and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 11:46:56 -0400 From: Anne Lyons Subject: I'm hot... ...sticky sweet From my head (head) head (head) To my feet. Hmmmmm... what exactly was Def Leppard talking about? Just some random thoughts from Anne today... Hannah: Can't wait to check out the lyrics on the web site! And awesome that you got to go see the Femmes -- and you even got in touch with your inner pissed off concert-goer! All I can say is call me up when you want to get inot a brawl at a BFF concert. I'm there, dude. Ginger: Sounds like you had a bitchin' time in Texas! And the "Don't Mess With Texas" -- while it sounds like a kickass slogan for the state in general... it actually started as an anti-litter campaign slogan. Which is why there are signs all over the highway. It's so you aren't tempted to throw junk out the window -- like burger wrappers or beer cans or old bike tires or Hanson. *grin* Carrie: We miss you! = ( Glad to hear you had a good time at BFF as well... except you sounded like you didn't actually *like* getting kicked in the head... what's up with that? I personally hate going to concerts where I don't get kicked in the head. I mean... what could be more fun than a concert-goer induced concussion? I think that you me and Hannah oughta get together and pull a little Rolling Stones/Hell's Angel action at the next Foldstravaganza... whaddya think? And tanks for reporting on the I'net thing... I loved the Deepak Chopra reference! Random: 1.) I have a CD player in my new CRV -- and it is *way* cool. (I would even go so far as to throw a Massachusettsism in there and call it "wicked f*ckin' cool"!) So I've been listening to a lot of BFF (after taking a bit of a respite from them. Which reminds me... anyone know when 'Fear of Pop' comes out? Just curious. But to get back to it -- Well, Hell. I didn't actually have a point. Just that I love my CD player. And that I'm listening to BFF again. That's all. 2.) I bought my tickets to BFF at SPAC. They look like decent, non-lawn seats, too. So I'm psyched. ConBENtion seems like a l o n g time ago - -- I'm ready for another fix! 3.) I had an interesting dream last night. It only involved BFF marginally... but since you all share with me... I will share and Annealyze for you. I was at a ski resort, waiting for my older brother to show up. While I was waiting, I was helping some kids with their homework in the little kids' play area. There were these little brightly colored pieces of laminated cardboard cut out in tesselations all over the ground. I was picking some of them up and my boss came in and told me that I need to make some more... so I found some gorgeous cardboard and started to make these elaborate new tesselations, and then my brother showed up and reminded me to laminate it before I cut out the patterns. Then I saw Ben and Darren, and I asked them if they were here to play or if they were on holiday. Ben asked me if I rhymed all my questions, and I replied: "With all the world replying in prose -- my poetic questions are simply a pose." And we all laughed and I woke up. So what did it mean? Well, with my life in upheaval... the fact that I was picking up these tesselation pieces is me trying to put together a pattern in my life. The fact that someone told me to create a new sheet of tesselations is saying that I should rely on the old pattern -- that I need to create a new pattern of life. My brother (who I respect and admire immensly) is giving me "advice" on how to solidify that new pattern. Working with the children has got to do with my question of whether to stay in education or go back into business. Finally, I think the Ben and Darren scene is about me wanting to be in control of my destiny (controlling my words so that they rhyme). Or it was the fetuccini I had for dinner. = D Later! - -Anne When times go bad When times go rough Won't you lay me down in the tall grass And let me do my stuff? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 09:34:47 -0700 From: "Kamp, Marcus S" Subject: Glaring Random Day So, how's come all the previews for Godzilla feature that damned, infernal Poof Poppa's bastardization of Kashmir (fully endorsed by the royalty-check-hungry Jimmy Page, mind you-so much for the ideals of the '60s!) & make very little mention of our boys' fantabulous contribution?! & how's come the Seinfeld finale reminded one more of a Brady Bunch or Andy Griffith TV movie than it did an actual Seinfeld episode. Hell, no we don't want cheesy TV!!! & how's come the Sonics bite in the playoffs? & how's come the Rangers didn't even make the playoffs? & how's come I'm askin' you? Oh, fate, why do you mock me so?! Markus ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 12:45:38 -0400 From: Jake Alderman Subject: I'm New Hello everyone I'm new to all of this e-mail stuff, but not Ben Folds. I really think it is great we can all get together and discuss bb5. I do have a few questions. Hopefully you can answer them for me. Is Boxing about the Muhammad Ali/ Howard Cosell feud in the late 70's or is that my imagination.? Who is opening for the Atlanta show, at The Tabernacle? I hope it is not the Venus Flytrap Girls and the Chris Farley look-alike drummer. Thanks, Jake I pour my heart and it evaporated. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 13:20:50 EDT From: Sandibrady Subject: Texas is weird and I won't even comment on Kansas.... wow....Calvin and I have returned alive from our LONG ASS drive to Texas...and even though we didn't plan on it, we hit Lawrence, KS on the way home too. That show really wasnt' worth shit except for the fact that we hung out with Katie and her mom Sharon (hi guys!) and grabbed some eats with them after the show... Ginger, yes, I was the one with the Polaroid and the Heineken cans...how'd you know? ha. Where were you in the crowd? Austin was a great show...it was my 24th b-day and my 24th show, so it had to be. :) There are really only a few words to describe it: totally out of control. The Dallas show was better, they seemed to have more energy and be a bit happier to be playing there in general. I have to totally disagree with Carrie about the Lawrence performance though (didn't see you there by the way...). I thought it really sucked. Seemed like the biggest waste of our time for the whole trip (although as mentioned above, Katie and Sharon made it worth while) and that's saying alot considering we drove friggin 2000 miles each way. They didn't seem like they wanted to be there at all and Ben seemed to have more fun smiling at all the 15 year olds who were waving at him than he was having actually playing the show. They cut the set short because the damn place doesn't have any lights in the parking lot and they wanted people to be able to find their cars. Duh. And my idea of a good time is not getting sprayed with a fucking fire hose just because way too many 15 year old skanks in the crowd decide to listen to some middle aged radio guy who yells 'show us your headlights!' just to get sprayed with a powerful hose. I do have to say that I am ashamed of BF5 and their crew (minus Doug, who didn't seem to give a shit) for hopping on stage to see all the jail-bait girls bare their chests for a bunch of gross old men. If that's what Kansas is all about, I'm glad to say I'll never be back there. As for Texas, it's just a STRANGE place....and yes Ginger, what's with all those pick up trucks? Crazy. Enough rambling...I need to unpack and do laundry....then re-pack for the Cincinatti show tomorrow...only to come home and unpack again and then re-pack for my next trip....it's an endless cycle. And to think I need to pack all this crap us soon because one of these days I have to get all of my shit down to Kentucky before June 3rd. *My big move* yikes....sounds utterly impossible with all the upcoming shows. ha. **Biggest disappointment of the entire weekend** = leaving my datebook/planner in my hotel room in Austin, TX. Apparently the maids haven't found it (my ass) so not only have I lost track of my life for the past year (I'll never be able to say, oh yes, Feb 28th was the day that I.....), but I've lost all of my phone numbers and addresses less than 2 weeks before my big move to Kentucky... So did Erik's wife have the baby yet or what? - --Sandi ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 16:20:55 -0400 From: spencerc@usit.net (Spencer Corden) Subject: "Produced by Brendan O'Brian." On Thu, 14 May 1998 16:05:17 -0700, wrote: <> I'd just like to point out that there is another relatively major artist whose work has also been produced by O'Brian--and that's Matthew Sweet. O'Brian's production work on _100% Fun_ and _Blue Sky on Mars_ is similar to what you spoke about regarding "Air" in the fact that synths were used on the songs "Superbaby" and also on "You Walked Out". I found both of these to be departures from the 'synthless' Girlfriend album as well as Altered Beast. Still, I thought the use of them was tasteful. There is even a tune on _Blue Sky..._ (2nd track, I think) that uses a great layered sound of keyboards at the beginning, some of the sounds run through a leslie cabinet (can't remember the name of the tune right now.....). That, plus the beautifully layered vocals å la Brian Wilson, are truly reminiscent of Beach Boys/Brian Wilsonesque production circa '67-'68 (Pet Sounds/Smile). Of course, public opinion will be divided on this tune. Those of us who are accustomed to the trio by themselves will probably have to take a few listening sessions to let it soak in, but it'll still be pure BFF, right? ;-) Spencer "god, I sound pretentious..." Corden ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 14:42:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Katie Subject: texas Why the pickup trucks? Cause Texas is _big_ and we need everything to be bigger and haul more and all that. Plus we need room for our gun-racks. Ha. sad but true. And you just don't mess with Texas, that's why, and don't you forget it. Uh yeah. Bentent - glad to hear that there's a crew down there since I'll be going back after I graduate. Why no Houston show this time, though? I'd love to hear from fans in Texas - especially anyone who could get me a job.... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 15:11:20 -0700 From: "Will Canzoneri" Subject: Superdrag Aw, c'mon guys! Being the huge Superdrag fan I am, I'm gettin' pretty damn jealous of no-name Robbie Fulks and the shitloads o' attention he got on the last tour when the only mention Superdrag's gotten is their obscene sound check in Texas! I know everybody on here but me has seen a show on this tour, so perhaps SOMEBODY could find it in them to slip in a few words about Superdrag next time... you know they rock... please?!! - --- "Reality, it's not for me, and it makes me laugh..." -The Beach Boys, 1971 Join 18 million Eudora users by signing up for a free Eudora Web-Mail account at http://www.eudoramail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 19:24:32 EDT From: Lennonita Subject: For Will and Anne Will: hell yeah Superdrag rocked. I'm tempted to go get their new album now. (I already had Regretfully Yours.) The lead singer reminded me of a very young Paul McCartney on speed. In a good way. Except he was right-handed. Really, they were one of the few great opening bands I've ever seen and it was a pleasure to hear them. (Most of the time I just endure the opening sludge in anxious anticipation of the main event.) Travis, who also opened for BFF on a previous tour, were really good, too. Anne: I gots a dream for Annelyzing. I dreamt the other night that I met the guys again...I didn't see an actual concert, but I showed up afterwards after the entire crowd had left and was helping them move speakers and stuff. There was a white baby grand piano in the middle of the stage, though, and I sat down at it on the left side of the bench and Ben sat on the right side. We started jamming. I played some rumbling, swirling bass things and he was all over the place ripping up all kinds of shit. It sounded awesome. (I have this tendency to compose really amazing music in my dreams...and when I wake up I can't remember it! It's frustrating beyond belief.) Then I hugged him while we were still sitting down and it was so vivid...I really felt like I was hugging him. Then I kind of patted him on his knee, got up, and left. I looked at the clock and it was past 1:30 in the morning, way past curfew, but I didn't care. All I knew was that I wanted to stay with Ben. It was the coolest dream ever. I was so upset when I woke up and had to confront the fact that it wasn't real. I don't know if this background info will help you any, but...lately I've been having very vivid dreams that my boyfriend isn't my boyfriend, and I think it's just because I miss him so much (I'm in Las Vegas, he's in New York). Those kind of screw me up. Anyway. Interpret it as you will... So who's heard Air? What do you think of it? I have it on mp3...good stuff. For some reason, it reminds me of the song "Dogs in the Yard" from the Fame soundtrack. I make weird associations. Meg "When in lost, look my lips."--Joe Cottone, music director ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 19:07:23 -0700 From: Janet Subject: Re: Superdrag Here you go... (I'll probably be shunned for this too) Some of you guys may know me (Hi, it's Janet) and you know how much I love BFF...but I have to admit that at the last show I had more fun with Superdrag. Well, ok I had fun with Darren too. Superdrag is great...yeah, they're different from the boys but a lot of they're songs are ace. I was at the Palladium show in LA and I did a favor for the Superdrag roadie so he let me watch the show on stage. Great show they played most of my favorites and John did this cool thing with his cigarette. He's so slick. When BFF came on I had to get back down, still had front row but I was way too close under the piano so all I could see was Rob and Ben's feet. No improv :( But they played Evaporated--my favorite, for the first time. Plus the crowd was full of teenage pricks, laughing and mocking the sad tone of the song. Swaying with their arms in the air, busting up. Not to mention how much they moshed/screamed/grabbed Ben during the rest of the show. It was terrible. Out of the 7 times I've seen them this is was my least favorite show. Afterwards I met up with the drummer from Superdrag, Don, who later invited me on the tourbus and we had a small cozy circle of conversation (including Darren for about 15 minutes:) about things like catholocism, IN-N-OUT's special menu, Jif vs. Skippy w/smell tests, tour stories, we played with the bands box 'o' toys, and I had such a great time. We called Darren in cuz he was locked out of the BFF bus, and he had some beer and weed with us. I saw Ben and Rob being mobbed outside of their bus by a bunch of young girls and for the first time, didn't want to be part of that 'cause I was also quite comfortable in the Superdrag bus. It was actually more like we wanted them to come on our bus so we got Darren to try and get them in, but it didn't quite work. Oh well, it was worth the try. Ended up staying there for 3 hours until the rest of the band came home from partying in Hollywood and it became too crowded. John was so gone, it was hilarious. But he was wonderful as well. So I had a great time with Superdrag, is that so bad of me? Don't get me wrong, I'll always be in my BFF universe but small changes of pace are always welcome now and then. With...a...cigarette, Janet. - -- My Mom Says I'm Cool. http://members.tripod.com/~peachfish/sparkie.htm My Heroes I Confess. http://members.tripod.com/~peachfish/BenFoldsFive/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 01:37:02 -0400 From: Amanda McClintock Subject: Dick Simmons This will be a short post only because I too was mezmerized by Richard on Letterman the night of the cyber cast. I can't help it. I mean I truly don't know what is funnier that Richard and Dave bickering for like hours about nothing! I can't get enough. I mean Dick's all sweaty and just acting like a fool and Dave's this huge jerk. It's wierd but I love it. So Hannah you are not alone! Who Luvs Ya! Amanda ------------------------------ End of The Rockford Files V1 #127 *********************************